Mail-box for rural free-delivery routes.



H. L. MO0N- MAIL BOX FOR RURAL FREE DELIVERY ROUTES APPLICATION HLEDMAR. 29. 19:7.

Patented Oct. 23,1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1 v f g H. L. MOON.

MAIL BOX FOR RURAL FREE DELIVERY ROUTES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29.1917.

1,244,229, 7 Patented 001;. 23, 1917.

2 SHEETSr-SHEET 2.

HAROLD LEROY MOON, 0F FAIRMOUNT, NORTH DAKOTA.

MAIL-BOX non RURAL 'rnnn-nnnlvnn 'nootrns.

Specification of Letters l atent. JPatented Get. 23, 1917,

Application filedMarch 29, 1917. 7 Serial No. 158,268.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HAROLD LEROY MooN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Fairmount, in the county ofRichlan'd, State of North Dakota, have invented a new and usefulMail-Box for Rural Free-Delivery Routes; and I do hereby declare thefollowin-g-to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same. i

This invention relates to an improved mailbox and signal therefor foruse in connection with rural free delivery routes, and

one of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple, eflicientand practical device of this kind, and which may be manufactured at asmall expense and sold for a reasonable profit.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mail boxconsisting of two sections hingedly united, and one thereof supported ontheupper end of the standard or post, there being means locking the twosections together.

A further object of the invention is to providea mail box consisting ofa base section and a closure section, the base section having adepression transversely thereof, across which a piece of mail matter maybe dis posed, to be engaged by a portion of a signal carried by theclosure section, to throw the signal into vision, as the closure sectionis lowered.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mail operated signalfor rural free delivery route mail boxes.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for holdingthe closure section open.

In practical fields, the details of construction may necessitatealterations falling Within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, ashereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a free deliverymail box for rural routes constructed in accordance with the invention,showing the closure section raised.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation, showing the closure section loweredand locked.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 2, showing the flag signalin its lowest position.

Fig. at is a longitudinal sectional view of the mall box illustrating atransverse arm of the flag signal being engaged by a piece of mailmatter disposed across a depression of the bottom section, which wouldhold the flag signal raised. i

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. l. I Referring moreespecially to the drawings, l designates an upright column or standardhaving a mail box supporting base 2'onits upper end. The mail boxcomprises a bottom base section 3 and a top or closure section 4. Thebase or bottom section comprises the two side flanges 5 and 6 and an endflange 7 The front end and the top of the bottom section are open. Thelower portion of the top or closure section is open, said closuresection comprises the side flanges 8 and 9 and the end flanges 10 and11. Suitable pivot pins 12 are employed to pivotally unite or hingedlyconnect the closure section to the bottom or base section, the sideflanges of the-closure section engage on the outside of the flanges ofthe bottom section. Theside flange 8 of the top section, near theforward end thereof, has secured thereto, a pair of guide bars '13,angular in cross section, thereby forming a guide for the stafi 14: ofthe-flag signal 15,- which is carried at the upper end of the staff.Adjacent the guide for said staff, a

slot 16 is formed in the side flange 8 of the closure section. Carriedby the staff 14 and projecting through the slot 16 is a pin 17, to

which one end of a spring 18 is connected.

The other end of the spring is connected to a pin 19 extending inwardlyfrom the side flange 8. The outer face of the stafi near its lower endis provided with a weight 20. The side flange 5 of the bottom or basesection is provided with a cutout portion 21. The bottom wall of thebase section, near the forward end thereof is so bent or depressed as toform a deep depression 22, which adjoins the cut out portion 21 andextends transversely of the base section. The lower end of the staffterminates in a right angle extending arm 23. The stafi and its guide,the cut out portion 21 and the depression 22 are so arranged relative toone another, that when the closure or top section is lowered, the rightangle extending arm 23 will move through the cut out portion, that is,in a downward direction, and engage the deep depression 22. Thisengagement of the arm 23 in the depression is attained only when theflag signal is below and flush with the upper surface of the closuresection. he flag signal is utilized to signal when there is mail matterin the box. Byvirtue of the combination of the actions of the weight andthe spring, the upper edge of the flag signal is held flush with theupper surface of the closure surface. The pin 17 limits the stud in itsdownward moven ent, with the flag signal flush with the upper surface ofthe closure section. However, when a piece of mail matter is placed inthe mail box, it is intentionally arranged over the depression. Hence,when the closure section is lowered, the right angle extending arm 23will contact with the mail matter, as shown in Fig. A. Therefore, thestaff will be moved upwardly through its guide against the -actions ofthe weight and the sprin Thus, it is obvious that the flag signal willprotrude above the surface of the closure section when it reaches thelimit of its lowered position, thereby indicating that mail matter iscontained in the box. it is evident that the weigh may be utilized, andthe spring dispensed with, and vice versa. However, both areillustrated, in order to insure operation of the flag signal. The lowerportion of the forward end flange of the closure section has securedthereto, as shown at 24, an angle plate 25 having an aperture 26.Secured to the bottom wall of the base section, at its forward end, asshown at 27, is a plate 28 having an aperture 29. T he angle plate andthe plate 28 are so arranged, that their apertures will register, whenthe closure section is lowered, whereby said apertures are permitted toreceive the shackle of a suitable padlock 30, to lock the two sectionsclosed. The side flange 5 of the base section, at its rear end, has adepression 31. The side flange 8 of the closure section has a flangedopening 32, for the reception of a headed pin'33, designed to engage thedepression 31, to hold the closure section raised. A. suitable cap 34;is threaded at 35 to the flange of said opening 32, as shown in Fig.This cap 3% constitutes a suitable housing for the coil spring 36, whichis interposed between the head of the pin and the closed end of the cap,thereby so tensioning the pin that when the closure section is raised,the rounded end 37 of said pin will be held seated in the depression 31,thereby firmly supporting the closure section raised. By virtue of thescrews 38 penetrating the bottom of the base section and the mail boxsupporting base 2, the mail box is held secure.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and usefulis 1. In a mail box, the combination of a base section and a closuresection having a guide, of means for hingedly uniting the two sections,a flag menace signal mounted in a guide of the closure section, andprovided with inetns adapted to engage a piece of mail matter to actuatethe signal to protrude beyond the box.

2. In a device as set forth a stationar 'mem'ber, a pivotally movablemember mounted thereon ant having a guide, and a signal having a staii'mounted in a guide of the movable member, of a sliding movement in theguide, said staff having means to engage a device in its path, forthrowing the signal into vision when the pivotal. member is loweree. V

3. In a device as set forth, a stationary member,a pivotallym-ovablemember mounted thereon and having a guide, and asignal having astaff mounted in a guide of the movableinember, of, a sliding movementin the guide, said stafi having means to ena device in its path, forthrowing the signal into vision when the pivotal member is lowered, andmeans for holding the pivotal section raised.

In a device as set forth, a stationary member provided with adepression, a pivotal movable member mounted on the stationary sectionand having a guide, a signal having a staff mounted in a guide of thepivotal movable section, and means carried by the staff adapted to entersaid depression normally, but designed to engage a device in its pathand across the depression to move the signal into vision when thepivotalmovable member is lowered.

5. In a device as set forth, astation'ary member provided with adepression, a pivotal movable member mounted on the stain its path tomove the signal into vision when the pivotal movable member is lowcred,and means to lower the signal stafi in its guide when the pivotalmovable mem her is raised.

6. In a signaling device for mail boxes, a stationary member having adepression, a gravity actuated member mounted thereon having a guide, astalf having a signal and mounted in said guide, means for hold thestaff lowered in its guide when the gravity actuated member israised,-said staff having a right angle extending arm to normally entersaid depression when the gravity actuated member is lowered, but adaptedto contact with a device in the path to raise the stall and throw thesignal into vision against the action of said means, when the gravityactuated member is lowered.

7. In a signaling device for mail boxes, a stationary member having adepression, a gravity actuated member mounted thereon tionary sectionand having a guide, a signal having a guide, a staff having a signal andmounted 1n said guide, means for holding the stafi lowered in its guidewhen thegravity actuated member is raised, said staif having a rightangle extending arm to normally enter said depression when the gravityactuated member is lowered, but adapted to contact with a device in thepath to raise the staff and throw the signal into vision against theaction of said means, when Gopies of this patent may be obtained forfive cents each, by addressing Washington, D. G.

the gravity actuated member is lowered, andmeans for holding the gravityactuated member in a raised position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of 15 the Commissioner of Patents,

